Solar Nigeria programme

10 Jan 2018

Nigeria has huge potential for solar electricity. The cost of solar power is coming down, and Nigeria's need for affordable, reliable, and clean electric power has never been greater.

The UK Government Department for International Development has implemented the Solar Nigeria Programme to improve the welfare outcomes of the currently underserved communities in Lagos state and Northern Nigeria by making a significant financial contribution towards the solar power electrification of public institutions, such as schools and hospitals. The intervention is expected to, by year 2020, ensure improved welfare outcomes for more than 2.8 million people using domestic solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, with 190,000 school pupils and 4.7 million clinic patients benefiting from public institutions with PV systems, create more than 3000 jobs and ensure greater effectiveness of DFID's other health and educational sector intervention in Nigeria.

To date 66.38% or the project budget of £66,062,367 has been spent. Solar Nigeria was launched in 2014 to build the market for distributed solar energy in Nigeria. Solar Nigeria is funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), and collaborates with other donors and Nigeria's federal and state governments. The programme works directly with companies that manufacture, install, and finance solar energy systems in Nigeria.

The Solar Nigeria Consumer Programme offers financial grants to capable companies that provide solar products, services and/or financing to consumers, to help rapidly expand their capacity to up-scale the market.

Some of the international and local companies that received grants - and that sold or leased solar to 170,000 homes - include Lumos, d.light, Awango by Total, LAPO micro finance bank, Arnergy, EMEL, Wandel, and Sosai. More recent recipients of grant include Solar Sister and PAS Bboxx. Grants helped them to expand more quickly to reach more customers, and to create jobs for more people.